The Breaking Point (BCS)

The Breaking Point is a Battalion Combat Series (BCS) game depicting the critical point in the Battle of France. The Phoney War between France and Germany ended abruptly when panzers raced through the Ardennes Forest. France replied, executing their Dyle Plan, by advancing into their neighboring neutral countries to meet the threat . Believing it would take the Germans a week to cross the wooded and rough terrain, the French advanced their reserves hoping to form a cohesive defensive line. The Germans emerged from the Ardennes in two days, setting up a race to the Meuse River. Who will get there first? Will the French arrive in force and stop the enemy from crossing? Will the Germans vault over the river into the French heartland? The decisions and actions ultimately decided the fate of France and Belgium.

The game covers this unique and often misunderstood campaign in splendid detail. Not just focusing on Sedan where Guderian crossed, the game covers the length of the main German drive. It spans from the armored feint north of the Meuse River leading to the biggest tank battle to date at Hannut; to the crossing at Dinant where Erwin Rommel's initial exploits were demonstrated; to Monthermé where a panzer division was held up by French Colonial troops; and finally to Sedan the French finally met its breaking point leading to the struggle for Stonne, and ultimately the breakout to the English Channel. Game specific rules capture important aspects like bridge blowing, bridge construction, tank breakdowns, Dyle Defensive Plans, and French Battle Doctrine. The intent is to reflect the historic capabilities and limitations of both sides without heavy handed rules or one built on myths.

Extensive research was done, including original French and German sources, to correctly depict the forces involved as well as how each sides' doctrines drove how they could be used effectively. The French and Belgians fought bravely and were executing a post-WWI defensive strategy. This was compared to the dynamic tactics of the Germans, where brashness and sometimes outright insubordination wasn't necessarily the winning factor, but rather luck. This fascinating and complex campaign can be explored by players in the way that only BCS can show.

Scenarios:

• Campaign (2 maps)
• Sickle Cut (2 maps)
• Hannut (1 map)
• Gembloux (1 map)
• Dinant (1 map)
• Bouillon (1 map)
• Sedan (1 map)
• Stonne (1 map)

Components:

• BCS rulebook (v2.1) 
• BCS Support rulebook (v2.1) 
• Two BCS Charts and Tables (v2.1)
• The Breaking Point Game Specific Rules 
• Turn and Weather Chart 
• Two 22" x 34" full-color maps
• 1,680 Counters (4 unit countersheets, 2 marker sheets)
• One deck of HQ Cards (62x 1.625" x 2.5" Cards)
• Box and Dice